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Landscape and Livelihood |
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Our priority application deadline is April 1st. Northwest Connections’ Field Semester immerses a small community of learners in an intensive two-month program focusing on ecology and community-based conservation. Students learn experientially as they study the landscape of the Swan Valley and the human community it supports. NwC’s instructional philosophy emphasizes participation in conservation projects as a means of developing field skills. Students also work closely with local citizens and land managers in order to understand the relationship of environmental issues to rural communities. Landscape and Livelihood’s residential program operates seven days per week, creating time for classroom lecture, field work, reading, reflective writing, independent study and involvement in community activities. Fifteen semester credits are earned in Forestry and Conservation, Environmental Studies, Recreation Management and Geography through a cooperative agreement with the University of Montana. Base camp for the semester is a historic homestead on the Swan River. From there, students travel throughout the Swan, Blackfoot and Flathead Valleys as well as the Swan and Mission Mountains.
What students say about Landscape and Livelihood "The Field Semester gives you a sense of place and helps you understand just what the term means to people who live here." "The semester is eye-opening. We learned about the interconnection, the inter-relationship and how things work together as a whole. And how important it is to think of people as part of the landscape, not separate from it." "We were brought into the community; we became a part of it." "Regarding the Northwest Connections' staff, faculty and volunteers; "it's not just their job, it's their lifestyle. It's part of their personal commitment, to pass on and to develop conscious minds." "The semester took all of the black and white environmental studies concepts that I had previously learned in classrooms and from books and made them real and in color." "I chose Landscape and Livelihood because I wanted to get experience in community-based conservation. I usually just get a straight wilderness or wildlife perspective in college."
Landscape and Livelihood In The News Students Get Opportunity to "Dig-Into" the Valley Back to life: Award-winning Greenough taxidermist serves clients from all over Homestay News, August 2009 (PDF) Visit our 'Barn Blog' for LL '09 highlights by intern CORI STANEK Visiting Students Learn Locally, Education Enriched in the Swan Students get hands-on experience in Swan Valley classroom Montana transforms into classroom for some Whitties Students establish 'Northwest Connection' Mills say finding niche key to survival UM students learn realities of landscapes, livelihoods Swan Valley Community Firewood Day |
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